Accused fake engineer wanted on hundreds of charges
An alleged fraudster is facing more than 350 charges in connection with falsely representing himself as a professional engineer in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
The Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), the licensing and regulating body for professional engineering in the province, laid 352 charges against Jay Lawrence Harding (also known as Jaye Lawrence Harding) under the Professional Engineers Act and the Provincial Offences Act for the acts.
Harding is charged with using a forged seal and the title of a licensed professional engineer in the course of performing, under the name AJ Ontario Hoist Inspections, at least 80 "inspections" and "non-destructive tests" of cranes and lifting devices in the Region of Waterloo in 2021.
According to PEO's member registry, Harding is not, and has never been, licensed as a professional engineer in Ontario. PEO also understands that Mr. Harding does not hold a non-destructive testing certification.
In a statement to Canadian Occupational Safety, magazine PEO it was tipped off to the fraud by a member of the public.
“This prompted PEO to open an investigation on Mr. Harding and we discovered more than 100 additional incidents through our further investigation. We are still investigating the full extent of Mr. Harding’s activities which may reveal more complainants and incidents.”
PEO says that, “Mr. Harding may have falsely represented himself as a professional engineer in respect of crane and lifting device inspections for other entities, posing a broader risk to public safety.”
The organization understands that Harding relocated to New Brunswick in 2022 and incorporated a new sole proprietorship named AJ Hoist Inspections.
“He may therefore continue to falsely represent himself as a professional engineer in New Brunswick.”
Harding is alleged to have used several aliases as part of his scheme.
Anyone in possession of a sealed or stamped document or certification bearing the name "J.L. Harding", "J. Harding", "Jay Harding", "AJ Ontario Hoist Inspections", or AJ Hoist Inspections", or who has engaged any of them for professional engineering or inspection services, should contact PEO's enforcement hotline immediately at 416-840-1444 or 1-800-339-3716 ext 1444, or at enforcement@peo.on.ca.